Menu

EVEL KNIEVEL | TRIUMPH OVER THE FOUNTAINS AT CAESARS PALACE

Evel Knievel rode several brands of bikes during his career. He started-off on a 350cc Honda, switched to a 750cc Norton in 1966, then Triumph from 1966-1968, Laverda 750cc American Eagle from December 1969 to April 1970, and in December 1970 Harley-Davidson became Knievel’s sponsor and he began riding an XR-750– the bike he is most commonly associated with. Knievel has often said that his Triumph was by far the best bike he ever jumped with– “The Harley’s got a little too much torque when it comes to jumping,” according to him.

“In the old days they, the promoters, wanted more and more from me. They wanted me to jump or spill my blood and break my bones. Every time they wanted me to jump further, and further, and further. Hell, they thought my bike had wings.”

Evel Knievel performing a standing wheelie on his Triumph motorcycle in the late ’60s.

–

Evel Knievel’s nitro-powered Triumph Bonneville (with make-shift wings and twin jet-engines) that he planned to use to jump the Grand Canyon. The National Park Service rightly expressed concern over the stunt harming the canyon, and Triumph notified Knievel that they would void the warranty on his Bonneville due to the addition of twin jet-engines. Thank God this knucklehead stunt was never realized, as it very likely would have meant Knievel’s early demise. (via Motorcyclist)–

Evel Knievel’s experimental nitro-powered Triumph Bonneville motorcycle rigged with wings and twin jet-engines that he hoped to jump the Gand Canyon with in the late ’60s. (via Motorcyclist)

–

Evel Knievel poses with sons Kelly (right) and Robbie at the rim of the Grand Canyon, c. 1968. via On May 20, 1999, Robbie followed in his Daddy’s footsteps and jumped a part of the Canyon (with a depth of 2,500 feet) on his Honda motorcycle for a personal best distance record of 228 feet. He crashed on landing and broke his leg.

–

Evel Knievel featured above in Motorcycle Sport Book, 1968, detailing his plans to rig a nitro-powered Triumph Bonneville with wings and twin jet engines to jump the Grand Canyon. Jeezuz, that would’ve been a colossal disaster. (via Megadeluxe)

–

“It will reach 250 miles an hour soaring over the Canyon with its twin jet engines and nitro burning Bonneville engine. It will accelerate to 158 miles an hour in 3.7 seconds.”

~Evel Knievel, on his plans to jump the Grand Canyon

–

A rare shot of Evel Knievel’s Laverda 750cc American Eagle motorcycle that he rode from December 1969 to April 1970.

–

A rare shot of Evel Knievel on his Laverda 750cc American Eagle motorcycle that he rode from December 1969 to April 1970.